VOLVO XC60 test drive since 2008 SUV

Swedish masonry

Volvo XC60: Perestroika on the foundation of traditions
What do you think, looking at the brick? In the rating of answers of the Volvo models, obviously not the last line will take. Forty years, starting with the series 144, the Swedish brand brick behind the brick folded her image. Is it time for overhaul?
Great swing
Maybe who has hands with his hands, but not with Steve Mattin. The clumsy workers do not keep 17 years in the Mercedes-Benz design department and, in any case, do not trust them with the modeling of the bodies of key models of the brand. Now the 44-year-old Briton, in May 2005, who took the post of Volvo Car Corporation chief stylist, proves to former colleagues from Stuttgart how much they lost with his departure. While M-in rolls out the angular, deliberately brutal GLK to the market, Mattin moved the Volvo design in the exact opposite direction, choosing a compact Premium-sedorist, XS60 as a pilot model.
Rivalry with only a mop for anyone else’s test. The Swede leaves in the field where the three-headed Audi Q5, BMW X3, M-B GLK is already waiting for him. From such an animal, only the shell of fire and acid-resistant brick will protect, they only cut it exclusively with briquettes and wedges. It is suitable to build a bunker, but XS60 was not conceived as a static target. To adopt from the Moscow builders the principle of reconstruction to the foundation, and then in Gothenborg for some reason they did not dare, and Mattin, for three quarters preserving the current architectural type of Volvo (vertical front, V-shaped hood profile, shoulders of the sidewalls), used for cladding instead of the simplest Monk brick with rounded faces of a pattern clinker, which combines strength and durability with flexibility of forms. So xc60 outwardly is it Volvo or not? Of course, Volvo, but another, modern, energetic and daring. How else to regard a successful attempt on the holy of holy brand, an almost vertical stern of the wagon body? The predecessor of Mattin, Peter Horbari, has already swung on this symbol of the leadership of the function of the beauty of the lines, but nevertheless, for the first altitude of the Volvo XC90, he chose a less radical solution. At Mattin, the hand did not flinch, and the rear racks of the roof of the XS60 arched with a spectacular arc (here it, completely rebuilt the fourth quarter!), And the characteristic elongated lanterns, previously timidly punging to the door of the cargo compartment, enclosed it in passionate embrace. Frivy Swede? Wow!
Disobtka (included in the basic Russian package) almost does not eat the volume of the cargo compartment, but the glass rising separately from the rear door, the secretaries in the floor and the sliding sofa of the Volvo crossover do not rely
Not skimp on promises of vivid sensations and the interior. Thanks to the designers of the Mattin team, they saved journalists from the torment of finding new words to describe the charms of the laconic Scandinavian style. He is still in place, but in addition to it, the CHS60 interior is remembered by a stylish (albeit not too practical) two-tone finishes, elegant seats with branded integrated head restraints and no less branded soaring central console, greatly woning from increasing the number of storeys and imprisonment to the frame under aluminum, which echoes the outbreak of door armrests. And what's that? Optical illusion? No, the transformed console is also deployed on the driver even more noticeable than in Audi and BMW!
Everything, everything, convinced. Volvo is not only full of determination to establish itself in the rank of Premium marks, but no longer considers the phrase Drivers Car abusive. But if so, you can not really blame the xc60 for not too much space for the legs of the rear passengers (although in length the model is one of the largest in the segment), the modest possibilities of transforming the salon and forget about the request of Volovites not to use the staffing system of navigation even for a long time Cartographic Spain. To the devil of this navigator, suspected of belonging to the family of Susanin! Here is a partner who has already considered the number of ruling rulings from the stop to the stop (less than 3!), Hurries. By screws!
From heaven to earth
Let our country and not the main market for KhS60, the choice by the organizers of versions for the introductory test turned out to be quite Russian T6 AWD with the only gasoline engine in the range (285 hp/400 Nm) and D5 AWD with the most powerful modification (185 hp. / 400 nm) 2.4-liter turbodiesel. In tandem with engines, a 6-band automatic transmission (for D5 option at a price of 55,900 rubles). Both options are win -win, judging by Russian sales of XC90, and there are preferences of buyers for three quarters of 2008. Almost 50:50 with some kind of advantage in favor of the diesel version. Let's start with her.
If the authorities notice the tremor of the hands in the morning, then the reason is clearly not in the five -cylinder motor. The vibrations here are liquidated no worse than the kulaks based on continuous collectivization in one country of the once defeated socialism. But it was not possible to solve the problem of acoustic comfort as unambiguously. The engine skillfully disguises its compound nature only on even gas, and even until the tachometer arrow has approached 3000 vol./Min. (And for sure, clinker brick with excellent moisture and frost resistance does not shine in terms of soundproofing). And you have to load the motor, otherwise it does not stir it for active acceleration. And here is a comparison with German turbodiesels not in favor of the Swede. Yes, and some advantage in recoil over 2.0- and 2.2-liter turbo-fame of competitors is not transformed into superiority in dynamics. True, the Audi Q5 and M-B GLK to Russia are delivered only with much more powerful 3.0-and-sized turbodiesel, and the Volvo XC60 D5 AWD is not as slow as they are more than their cheaper (up to +500,000 rubles).
T6 AWD will not be able to play a price card. Slightly more expensive than this version of the CH60 only GLK 350 4MATIC, and in practice, the rival of the gasoline Swede, in addition to the X3 XDRive 3.0i, will also become more affordable GLK 280 4MATIC and Q5 2.0 TFSI S Tronic QUATTRO with the latest AUDI plumber four. The record in the segment, the recoil of the in-line turbo-sheet Volvo compensates for 6070 kg a large mass of the model, but nothing more. This does not cancel the fact that the T6 AWD has a serious energy potential. In addition, thanks to the widest maximum thrust plateau, the problem of AKP flicker in fully automatic mode is completely eliminated. However, on the diesel version, the Aisin automatic machine proved itself to be Japanese, as well, but quite quick when performing frequent Kick-Down. The effectiveness of the brakes is also pleasing. It is only necessary to get used to the fact that the intensity of deceleration is mostly adjusted by effort on the left pedal, and not by it.
Opposite the column with graphs of the optional (67,800 rubles) active Four-s chassis, we put a dash behind the absence of such XS60 in the test park. On the usual suspension and tires of 235/60 R18 (standard 235/65 R17), ignoring rare irregularities on the roads under Valencia was given XS60 no better than Q5 or GLK in low -profile shoes and with controlled electronics shock absorbers. Among other things, it was apparently affected by the relatively short interdess distance of the Swede.
But the same base, combined with the most solid in the segment, failed the KhS60 with worthy indicators of geometric cross -country ability. True, the Volvians call their model only as a crossover. The fashionable term serves as an indulgence, removing all the accusations of sins from KH60 in terms of asphalt behavior. If so, then the congress to the pampas was not listed in the compressed test program. And yet, why is the Swede refused the SUV/SAV title, for which there are such notebooks such as Q5 and X3? We will receive the exact answer in Russia. Now just information for reflection. Yes, KhS60 is not a diving champion, but GLK (with OFF-Road package, the best in dry patency in this quartet of competitors) is able to overcome ford even less depth. The automatic braking system on the descent is included in the basic Russian CHP60. There is an electronic imitation of inter -normal differs. The canons of technical equipment for the Pigzon Premium-Suv, it seems, are observed. What is the matter? Apparently, not only in tires the issue of choosing Pirelli Pzero Rosso with a purely road pattern. But if 95% (half) of solid traction is sent to the front axle in the nominal mode to the front axle, then pray for the speed and balances of the tuning of the electronic brains of the Haldex interdose clutch.
Asphalt callus? An entry on a steep arc on a solid four, if compared with the Technology X3 and has a GLK reinforced concrete confidence. Alas, Haldex is drawn with a rolling of torque, and at the exit of the turn, where the Germans can already be spent with a whip of gas, xc60 is opposed to such an appeal. A light touch to the accelerator pedal makes the Swede sharply expand the trajectory, and it does not seem that this is especially exciting to the standard DSTC stabilization system (as the crossover on slippery coating behaves is also a question, because Haldex throws almost all the thrust when slipping). There is a feeling of deja vu. Other Volvo all -wheel drive models have exactly such habits, the same XC70, the chassis of which served as the basis for XC60. The usual Volvo spirit was depressed in a mechanical foundation, and even a very bold reduction of the box for the Swedish brand did not force this intangible substance to change its nature, which is customary to identify with security.
In architecture, during the medieval long -term construction of the cathedral, laid down in the Romanesque style, then often organically grew into Gothic ones. It is more difficult with cars. And not only with cars. In some of the scattering of details made from the factory, whatever one may say, Kalashnikov’s assault rifle turns out. Others are puffed, stuck, and at the output of the Party process, another publication of the CPSU appears. So Volvo, with any external changes, produces. But, in the end, our world, in addition to impulsive choleric and sanguine, is inhabited by other people. They are so constant of the Scandinavian character of Volvo only in joy.
Laser Long
Active cruise control with the possibility of automatically slowing down the car to a complete stop is not news, but this thing is expensive and is offered as an option. Volvo, apparently at lower costs (accurate information from Top Secret), found a way to propose a device for such an appointment in the database, thereby strengthening its image of the company, more than other security. COL -60 can also be equipped with active cruise control (108,600 rubles), but under the windshield of the crossover, the City Safety laser rangecover is fixed in any case, in creeping mode, capable of replacing the gaping driver and even with a pressed gas pedal to produce brakes. At speeds up to 15 km/h City Safety, it prevents a rammed or stopped passing car, and at a speed of up to 30 km/h softens the severity of the consequences of collisions. Such help is not a trifle, because 75% of accidents on the catch occur in this high -speed range.
And everything would be wonderful, but the laser is configured to the reflective ability of a clean rear license plate. How many we see them in Russian bad weather? By the way, although the range finder is located in the area of \u200b\u200bresponsibility of the wipers, its effectiveness falls in heavy rain and snowfall. A fog or film made of a stroke anti -headed reagent is also a belibo on the eye. But in places with the best City Safety climate is quite selective: motorcycles with license plates, and even more so without scooters, bicycles and other pedestrians (unless they are dressed in a brilliant cuirass) can also fall out of the field of view of the system. In a word, in the cabin of XC60, a poster in the Soviet style with an appeal would look at the place: driver, remember!
Text Mikhail Kozlov photo of the author and the manufacturer
 

 

A source: Cars